Uttam warns rice millers, traders against hoarding, black-marketing

Minister for Civil Supplies N. Uttam Kumar Reddy holding a meeting on rising rice prices in Hyderabad on Friday.

Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy warned rice traders against illegal hoarding and black-marketing and made it clear that the government would take stringent action against violators.

Stating that the government was determined to bring down rising rice prices and protect consumers from the undue burden, the minister said that enforcement operations were intensified across the State with special attention to wholesale and retail markets in Hyderabad and surrounding districts.

At a meeting held here on Friday to review measures to control rising rice prices following discussions held by the officials of the Civil Supplies Department with wholesellers, retailers and rice millers, he said that, as part of the price-control initiative, the government was focusing on ₹66 per kg for commonly consumed BPT rice, and the price for RNR rice would be reviewed taking into account differences in quality and production costs.

“The government will not tolerate profiteering at the expense of consumers and enforcement operations will continue until the market stabilises,” he warned.

Civil Supplies Commissioner M. Stephen Ravindra briefed him on the special enforcement measures initiated. Director of Civil Supplies Shyam Prasad Lal and other senior officials participated in the meeting.

On the price controls and enforcement drive, the officials explained to the minister that 12 cases were registered so far against rice traders for alleged irregularities, including illegal stockpiling and overpricing, following coordinated raids by five departments -- Civil Supplies, Police, GST, Legal Metrology and the concerned enforcement authorities.

Extensive inspections were carried out in Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts, covering major wholesale trading centres including Begum Bazaar, Nampally and Maharajgunj. The raids would be continued across the State to identify violations, curb excessive pricing and ensure relief to consumers.

Assuring the public that Telangana has sufficient rice stocks and there was no shortage, the minister appealed to consumers not to panic or resort to unnecessary bulk purchases. He asked the ration cardholders to consume the fine rice supplied through the public distribution system. The rice distributed through the PDS was sourced from paddy grown by Telangana farmers and milled within the State, he noted.